Golf game



` Sept 17, i935. W H, STAYTON 2,014,993

GOLF GAME Original Filed July 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 pt@ 17, 1935., w.H. sTAYToN @,mw

GOLF GAME Original Filed July 5, 1950- 3 Sheets-:Sheet 2v HIV? Sept. 17,1935. w. H. sTAYToN GOLF GAME 5 sheets-sheet 5 Original Filed July 3,195C Patented Sept. 1 7, 17935.

Unirse srarss ENT @Fifi Original application lluly 3, 1930, Serial No.465,759. Divided and this application August 17, 1931, Serial No.557,703. Renewed December 8 Claims.

This invention relates to games and more particularly toa game providinga miniature variation and close simulation of the well known outdoorgame of golf. This application is a division of application Serial No.465,759, led

July 3, 1930.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide games in imitation of golfwhich might be played on a sufficiently small scale to provide indoor 10amusement, but all of these games, to applicants knowledge, have, bytheir reduction in scale, resulted in the elimination of most of theelements which combine to make outdoor golf such a popular, competitivesport. Personal judgment,

physical skill, knowledge of the rules oi the game and otherpsychological factors, all of which contribute greatly to the enjoymentof the outdoor game, have largely vanished in the miniaturereproductions previously provided.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide agame which is highly instructive as well as entertaining, and whichrequires and encourages the useV of individual skill.

Another object is to provide a novel game of miniature golf in which theusual conditions and problems of actual outdoor play are closelysimulated, and which requires a degree of skill comn parable to thatexercised in the regular game.

A further object is to provide a game of golf which, although greatlyreduced in scale, affords the same opportunities for enjoyment andinstruction, and accurately presentsY the same problems as the outdoorgamethereby constituting a most desirable means of practice and studywith respect to the physical movements, exercise of judgment and rulesof play ofthe game in general.

Another object is to provide a manikin golf player of novel constructionwith which a game of 40 golf may be played in a manner closelyresembling that of the regular game.

A further object is to provide a novel manikin golfer whose members arewidely adjustable at the will of the player of the game, and which isadapted to be actuated by a maximum of personal skill on the part of theplayer andV a minimum of mechanical movement derived from the structureitself.

50 Still another object is to provide a novel manikin golfer whosestance, choice of club length and angle of club face, length and forceof swing, and other physical characteristics entering into a golf shotmay be individually adjusted or determined 55 by the player of the game,thus affording maximum opportunity for the exercise of his own judgment,and golfing ability.

A still further object is to provide a novel game of miniature golf inwhich the movements of a manikin golfer may be completely controlled by5 the player of the game, and the shots played upon a game board whichreproduces actual playing conditions with utmost iidelity.

These and other objects will appear more fully from a considerati-on ofthe detailed description lo of the invention which follows. Although twoembodiments each of the game board and manikin are described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be expresslyunderstood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only,l5 and are not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of theinvention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one embodiment of a. 2O playing surfaceconstituting a miniature golf course on which the game may be played;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Fig'. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of 25 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the playing surface;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; 30 Figs. 6, 7and 8 are perspective views, taken at different angles showing oneembodiment of the manikin according toI the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a detail View partially in section of Y another embodiment ofthe manikin.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersindicate like parts throughout the several views, there is disclosedtherein a miniature golf game comprising three novel, cooperating gamepieces-a playing board or sur- 40 face, a ball, and a manikin player.

The playing board or surface (Figs. 1 5) con prises, in general, a baseor mat upon which are accurately reproduced in miniature the physicalcharacteristics of a golf course. The board may be made in sections,each section being a complete unit in itself of any desired number ofholes, with suitable means being provided for joining a plurality ofsections in order to construct a course of any desired length andlayout, or, if desired and if sumcient space is available, an entirecourse may be laid out and constructed as a unit. The base or mat may beeither per-V manently attached to a table or other suitable support, Voradapted for temporary attachment and ready portability. The preferredconstruction, however, embodies portable sections of a rigid base ofslightly smaller size than the ordinary card table, both sides of thebase being finished to represent a portion of a golf course, and meansfor supporting and joining a plurality of such sections. An alternativeconstruction comprises similar portable sections of a flexible mat ofsubstantially the same size as an ordinary card table, each of whichsections can be rolled up into a small package of convenient size foreasy transportation, and then spread out and temporarily secured bysuitable means to any available table.

Referring now in detail to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the playing board as showntherein comprises a plurality of portable sections I0 supported in anysuitable manner as on card tables Il, and novel means for joining thevarious sections to constitute the desired layout. Each section I9 has abase I2, of any suitable material such as wood, in each corner of whichis secured a supporting pillar I3 projecting on each side thereof. Thesesections I0 may be of any desirable size, but as shown are slightlysmaller than the top of an average card table II.

Both sides of base I2 are prepared in simulation of a golf course byreproducing in miniature thereon, by any suitable means, the physicalcharacteristics of the tees, fairways, rough, hazards and greens of anyknown or imaginary course. The contour of the surface may rst beprepared by applying to base I2 a suitable amount of padding I4, such asfelt, and then a fabric covering I5 placed thereover and secured to baseI2 at the edges thereof. Fabric covering I5 may be of any desiredmaterial but preferably is provided with a pile in simulation of grass,the height of which can be varied by cutting so as to be short in thefairways and long in the rough. Miniature trees, fences and othersimilar hazards may be placed on the surface of fabric covering I5, and,if desired, secured thereto as by sewing.

If desired, the greens and large hazards, such as ponds or sand trapsand bunkers, may be constructed as units removable from base I2 andinterchangeable one with the other, thus again increasing the number ofpossible variations in the layout of the course. As shown, each greenand large hazard comprises a base member i6, preferably of the samematerial as base I2, which is appropriately surfaced similarly to baseI2, but on one side only. The greens are surfaced with a thin layer ofpadding I4 and a substantially smooth fabric covering I5, and are eachprovided with a cup I'I representing the hole, in which is removablysupported the staff I8 of a ag I9. Those units representing ponds andsand traps may be provided with suitable depressions 28 in base membersI6 in which water and sand may be placed.

All units are of the same size and shape so as to be interchangeable,and are adapted to be seated in suitable recesses ZI formed in base I2.For convenience, the units have been shown as circular with a shoulderedange 22 engaging an inwardly projecting collar 23 formed integrally withbase I2, but it is to be understood that other forms of construction maybe utilized.

Novel means are also provided for joining together the various sectionsof the playing surface which not only make possible a complete,ccntinuous layout, but also prevent the transmission of vibrations orshocks from one section to another which might disturb the play. Twoforms of such connecting means are shown in the drawings, that in Fig. 2illustrating a flexible or resilient trough which might be utilized torepresent a stream, and that in Fig. 3 showing a strip of surfacesimilar to that of the adjoining sections I0.

The exible trough of Fig. 2 comprises a pair of rods or strips 24, equalin length to base l2, and a trough 25 of resilient material such asrubber, equal in length to the distance between pillars I3 and securedto rods 24 by any suitable means such as sewing.

The connecting strip shown in Fig. 3 has a thin base plate 26 ofsuitable material on which is formed a surface of padding I4 and fabriccovering I5 similar to that formed on base I2. Base plate 26 is equal inlength to trough 25 and slightly narrower than the space which it is tocover so as to allow a small movement of one section I0 withoutdisturbing the adjacent section.

A second embodiment of the playing board is disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5,differing from that just described in that the base comprises a exiblemat which may be rolled up for ready transportation, and is providedwith a playing surface on only one side, the base being adapted to restdirectly upon the supporting table and to be temporarily secured theretoby suitable means.

As shown, a base I2', of any suitable iiexible material such as rubber,is made substantially equal in size to the top of card table II and isprovided with suitable straps 21 in each corner thereof which areadapted to slip under the corners of table II and thus temporarilysecure the playing board thereto. The upper surface of base I2 isprepared in simulation of a golf course by means of padding I4 and afabric covering I5 in a manner similar to that previously described. Thegreens and large hazards are also made as removable, interchangeableunits similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, suitable shoulderedrecesses 2| being provided in base I2 to receive the flanged basemembers I6. It will be understood that these units are removed fromrecesses 2I when base I2 is rolled up for transportation.

The miniature golf course thus provided may be laid out as a replica ofany actual course, or may be a combination of famous holes of variouscourses. The fairways, greens, hazards and other physicalcharacteristics of the course are accurately constructed to scale, thescale used also being an important factor to be considered in theconstruction of the ball and manikin player later to be described.

Since the present game is intended to be as close a simulation aspossible of the actual game of golf, a ball 28 is used instead of a discor any of the other artificial means heretofore proposed. The ball maybe made of any suitable material, cork, aluminum and steel each havingbeen utilized by applicant, but it is preferable to construct it fromhard rubber and to provide it with a cover painted and marked in amanner similar to ordinary golf balls. The size and weight of the ballare, of course, dependent upon the size of the playing board and that ofthe manikin.

In order to propel the ball around the miniature golf course abovedescribed, a novel, portable manikin golf player has been provided whichis so constructed as to allow maximum control by the player of the gameand all movements of the manikin, thus rendering the element ofindividual skill the most important factor in the CTI 1 means of screw39.

lsuccessful playing of the game. To this end the body and members of themanikin are made flexible in simulation of the joints and muscles of thehuman body, and a golf club is provided which is fully adjustable. as tolength of the shaft and angle of face of the Vclub head. Novel means foractuating the club have also been devised which permit full personalcontrol of the force and length of the stroke of the club by the playerof the game.

As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the manikin player comprises a torsol ortrunk 29, substantially cylindrical in shape and made of any suitablematerial, either wood or metal, which is adjustably supported at itslower end in a hip plate Sil to which are secured flexible legs 3lterminating in weighted feet 32, and which at its upper end carries arotatable shoulder band or disc 33 to which is secured a flexible arm 3dholding a miniature golf club 35.

The adjustable connection between torso 29 and hip plate 3@ ispreferably of the ball-andsocket type so as to allow a maximum of ad*justability, and as shown, (see Fig. 9 for details), comprises ahemispherical base 36 for torso 29 which rests upon a concave seat orsocket 3l formed in hip plate 3i! and is secured thereto by means of adished washer 33 held against the bottom of socket 3l and secured tobase 36 by Socket 3l is provided with an enlarged central opening lilthrough which screw 39 extends, thereby allowing a wide range ofmovement of torso 2% relative to hip plate 3%. The flexibility of thejoint thus formed may be easily adjusted by screw 39.

The legs 3l of the manikin are preferably made of flexible tubinglsufficiently stiif to support the weight of the rest of the manikin andyet flexible enough to enable the player of the game to adjust the legsto any desired position. The lower ends of the legs are provided withweighted feet 32 which may be cast of lead and swiveled thereto in anysuitable manner, while the upper ends are provided with ferrules @lwhich are rigidly secured to hip plate 3l).

The upper end of torso 2Q is provided with suitable means for rotatablysupporting shoulder disc 33 and for adjusting its plane of rotationrelative to the torso. As shown, shoulder disc 33 is rotatably mountedon a shaft 42 and rests against a collar llt secured to said shaftintermediate its ends. The lower end of shaft i2 below collar li3 isprovided with a bifurcated portion t@ which engages the upper end of astud i5 threaded into the upper end of torso 29.

A bolt it 4extends through suitable openings in bifurcated portion itand stud d5 and is provided with a butterfly nut l, thereby affording aneasily adjustable means for varying the plane of rotation of disc 33relative to torso 29.

Arm 3d is made of tubing similar to that co-mprising legs 3l but ispreferably slightly more exible. The upper end of arm 34 is providedwith a ferrule lil which is threaded into the `periphery of shoulderdisc 3, and its lowerend is provided with a chuck t@ in which isfrictionally gripped the upper end of the shaft of golf club 35. Theeffective length of the shaft may `thus be adjusted by sliding itthrough chuck G9,

ball or handle 53 which is adapted to be grasped by the player in makingthe stroke. In order to decrease the effect of weighted ball 53 inassisting the stroke and to thus require that the actuating lever 52 bepositively moved by the player throughout the stroke, a coil spring 54is provided surrounding therupper .end of shaft l2 and exerting adampening force against shoulder disc 33. The other end of spring 5d isseated ina recess 55 formed in a detachable head 5S of the manikin whichis threaded onto the upper end of shaft 42.

In Fig. 9 there is shown a variation which may be made in theconstruction of the torso and the` connection therewith of the shoulderdisc in the interest of Igreater iiexibility and closer simulation ofthe human body. As disclosed therein, the substantially cylindrical,rigid torso 29 of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is replaced by a length of exibletubing 5l which is secured at its lower end by a ferrule 58 to Vahemispherical base 36', and at its upper end by another ferrule 5t tothe collar 113' of shaft s512' on which shoulder disc 33 is rotatablymounted. The ball-and-socket connection of base 36 to hip plate 39, themounting of shoulder disc 33 on shaft ii2, and all other details of themanikin not specifically shown in Fig. 9 are similar to those shown inFigs. 6, 7 and 8.

As mentioned above, a head 56, representing that of a man or woman, isadapted to be screwed onto the upper end of shafts 4l and si to completethe structure of the manikin. It is also contemplated that the manikinwill be provided with clothing of any suitable character, such asindicated in the drawings, so dressed upon the figure as not tointerfere with its mechanical functioning. .The clothing, of course, maybe changeable, as are the heads, so that the manikins used in a matchmay be appropriately dressed to represent the various players. In thisconnection, it mayl also be desirable to correlate the colors of t. eclothing of the various manikins with the markings of the balls so thateach player will easily be able to identify his ball at any time duringthe game.

In playing this game, the usual rules of golf obtain although it ispermissible to formulate additional local rules as is common practice inthe outdoor game. The game board or course is first prepared for play bysetting it up in any suitable place where adequate space is available.In cases where the game is installed in clubs, hotels, amusement parks,etc., the layout will 'usually be permanently attached to its supportand no preparation of the board will be necessary, but in the preferredembodiment, the individual, portable sections will be placed upon cardtables, or other suitable supports, and connected together to form acourse of any desired length and layout. If exible mats of the formshown in Figs. 4 and 5 are used, they would rst be unrolled and spreadout on the tables, have their green and hazard units inserted in theproper recesses, and then be temporarily secured to the tables by themeans provided.

The game is then played in the usual manner starting from Number 1 tee.The ball is teed up and the manikin placed in the proper position tomake the drive, all operations being performed by the individual playingthe game. The stance, or position of the feet, is first -adjusted andthen the position of the arm and body. The angle of the club head andthe length of the shaft are also xed in accordance with the judgment ofthe player and the ball is addressed. In making the stroke, the playergrasps the actu-ating arm of the rotatable shoulder disc in one hand,using the other to steady the manikin, if necessary, and positivelymoves the clutch throughout a complete stroke.

Should the stroke be poorly executed due either to an error in judgmentas to stance, etc., or to an improper use of physical force, a sliced,hooked, topped or dubbed shot will result just as in the regular game,due to the novel construction of the manikin.

After the drive has been made, the manikin will be moved by the playerup to Where the ball lies, the stance, club head, and length of shaftagain adjusted and the second shot played, the

amount of force used and the length of the swing again depending uponthe judgment of the player. When the ball reaches the green, the club isadjusted for putting, and a slight tap used to put the ball in the hole.

The score is recorded in the same way as in the regular game, and anydesired number of holes may be placed in the above described manner toconstitute the gaine. It will be understood that a plurality of manikinsand balls mays be provided so that the game may be played by twosomes,threesomes or foursomes as well as by single players, and matchesarranged as in the regular game.

There is thus provided by the present invention a novel game ofminiature golf which closely simulates in all its details the well knownoutdoor game and which is instructive as well as enter# taining,requiring a degree of personal skill comparable to that exercised in theregular game and thus affording a desirable means of practice and studyof the game in general. A manikin golf player is provided of novelflexible construction such that maximum adjustability is afforded ofbody, members and the golf club, thereby allowing great opportunitiesfor the exercise of personal skill by the player, and making individualability a true measure of the successful playing of the game.

It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the exact formsdescribed and illustrated in the drawings, but is capable of a varietyof mechanical embodiments. For example, it is contemplated that theplaying board may be permanently attached to its support and that anentire I8 hole comse may be constructed as a unit. Such a layout wouldbe well adapted for use in a club, hotel or amusement park, in whichcase it would probably be preferable to provide the manikin with acoin-operated locking device whereby it would be unlocked by the depositof a coin and would automatically re-lock after the elapse of apredetermined period of time, or after a certain number of strokes havebeen played. Various other changes, which will now appear to thoseskilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and reference is therefore to be had to the appended claimsfor a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a torso, a supportfor said torso, an adjustable connection between said torso and saidsupport permitting movement of the former in a plurality of planes withrespect to the latter, a flexible arm carried by the torso, and a golfclub held by said arm.

2. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a torso, a supportfor said torso, an adjustable connection between said torso and saidsupport permitting movement of the former in a plurality of planes withrespect to the latter, a shoulder disc mounted at the upper end of saidtorso and rotatable relatively thereto, an arm carried by said shoulderdisc, and a golf club held by said arm.

3. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a torso, a supportfor said torso, an adjustable connection between said torso and saidsupport permitting movement of the former in a plurality of planes withrespect to the latter, a shoulder disc mounted at the upper end of saidtorso and rotatable relatively thereto, an arm carried by saidshoulder'disc, a golf club held by said arm, and means for manuallyrotating said shoulder disc thereby swinging the golf club.

4. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a torso, flexiblelegs for said torso, an adjustable connection between said torso andsaid legs permitting movement of the former in a plurality of planeswith respect to the latter, a shoulder disc mounted at the upper end ofsaid torso and rotatable relatively thereto, a flexible arm carried bysaid shoulder disc, a golf club held by said arm, and means for manuallyrotating said shoulder disc thereby swinging the golf club.

5. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a flexible torso,flexible legs for said torso, said legs having weighted feet, anadjustable connection between said legs and said torso, a rotatableshoulder disc at the upper end of said torso, a flexible arm carried bysaid shoulder disc, a golf club held by said arm, and means for manuallyrotating said shoulder disc thereby swinging the golf club.

6. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a torso, a supportfor said torso, an adjustable connection between said torso and saidsupport permitting movement of the former in a plurality of planes withrespect to the latter, an arm carried by the torso, a golf club held bysaid arm, and manually actuatable means for rotating said arm about theaxis of the torso independently of said torso, thereby swinging saidgolf club.

7. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a body, a flexiblyadjustable arm and legs connected to said body, a golf club held by saidarm, and means for adjusting the angle of loft and the length of theshaft of said golf club.

8. In a golf game, a manikin golf player comprising a body, flexiblyadjustable legs for said body, an adjustable connection between saidlegs and said body permitting movement of the former in a plurality ofplanes with respect to the latter, a rotatable shoulder disc at theupper end of said body, an arm carried by said shoulder disc, a golfclub held by said arm and means for adjusting the angle of loft and thelength of shaft of said golf club.

WILLIAM H. STAYTON.

